Rickie Lambert 'goes home' to Liverpool and will now have a chance to stake an
England claim against Ecuador

New Liverpool signing Rickie Lambert is set to cap a fairy-tale week by being given the chance to stake his World Cup claim by England manager Roy Hodgson.

Lambert’s dream move to boyhood club Liverpool was announced on Monday while he was in Miami with England’s World Cup squad.

The striker is now preparing to play for England in the second World Cup warm-up game against Ecuador in Miami on Wednesday, as Hodgson wants to look at all his options.

Lambert did not feature in England’s victory over Peru ahead of his Liverpool medical on Saturday, but the 32-year-old is expected to add to his four caps in the Ecuador friendly and will most likely start.

Daniel Sturridge underlined his position as England’s in-form striker with a superb goal against Peru, but Lambert can further enhance his case to provide Hodgson with an alternative option off the bench during the World Cup.

Hodgson’s plan ahead of the three warm-up games was to start with Wayne Rooney on the substitutes’ bench against Ecuador.

Lambert revealed his mother and father cried when he told them that he would be returning to Liverpool, where he started his career before being released, in a £4.5 million deal. “My mum and dad shed a few tears when I told them, especially my mum,” said Kirkby-born Lambert. “It’s not just playing for Liverpool, it’s the fact I’m coming home. I’ve been away for eight years.

“I have thought about it this moment all my life. It was something I always thought of when I was a kid. When I knew of the interest from Liverpool, the first thought was of playing and scoring in front of the Kop and how it might be a possibility. Now that I’ve signed, it could become a reality.

“I can’t believe it. I’ve loved this club all my life. I left here 17 years ago – and I haven’t stopped loving it since. To be back here now having just signed at the age of 32 is hard to describe.

“Obviously, I have always dreamt of playing for Liverpool, but I didn’t think the chance would come. It was a shock when I heard Liverpool were in for me.”

After first leaving Liverpool in 1997, Lambert played in the lower leagues for Blackpool, Macclesfield Town, Stockport, Rochdale, Bristol Rovers and Southampton before the Saints won promotion to the Premier League.

“When people were telling me I couldn’t do it, of course I wasn’t going to listen to them – I was going to find somewhere else to play football,” said Lambert. “I would have been happy playing League One, League Two, Conference ... wherever. I was always going to play football.

“Since I have been taking it seriously and believing in myself, all my dreams, wishes and what I wanted at the start have come true in the end. It’s been a long time, but it’s finally come true.

“I think I am prepared mentally now for almost anything. I’ve had a long career, I’ve experienced a lot - a lot of ups and downs - and I believe I am at a time in my life now where anything that happens, I can enjoy, get the most out of it and adapt to it.

“I know how big Liverpool are - and it means everything to me - but I know what is important; I know it’s what I do on the pitch and the minutes I play. I know that’s what matters, and that’s what I’ll be focused on.”

Lambert admitted he was worried that he would not make it as a footballer when he was first released by Liverpool as a 15-year-old, but is now determined to help the club push for next season’s Premier League title.

“It was absolutely devastating,” said Lambert. “Absolutely devastating. I can remember at the time thinking I wasn’t going to be a footballer - I’d been dropped from Liverpool and it was the end of the world for me. I was so devastated.

“At the time, I thought nothing was ever going to feel worse than that, but I can tell people now life goes on and you shouldn’t let it hit you too much... but I never thought I’d manage to get back here!

“Now I want to help push the club forward. They’ve had an unbelievable season and just missed out on the title. Whatever role Brendan Rodgers has for me, I hope I can just help them push on again and hopefully clinch the title. That is everyone’s dream, and that is what we’ve got to believe we can do.”